Seabirds in Yorkshire aquarium are fed anti-depressants - because the miserable British weather is giving them the blues

Staff push the pills into the gills of the fish the down-in-the-dumps birds eat

The constant downpours and bracing winds are getting to the penguins

The measure is needed because depressed birds can suffer health problems

By Sam Webb
PUBLISHED: 6 February 2014

Penguins are being fed 'happy pills' at a Yorkshire aquarium - because the miserable English weather is making them depressed.The South American seabirds are said to be so glum, thanks to the relentless rain and wind, they have all been put on a course of anti-depressants. The animal welfare team at at Scarborough Sea Life Centre push the medication into the gills of dead fish, which are then fed to the penguins.

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Not so chirpy: The penguins need anti-depressants as a low mood can affect their health

Take only with meals: The pill is pushed into the gills of a fish, which is then fed to the penguins

It is the first time the dozen Humboldt penguins at the centre have needed such medication because of the British climate. 'Humboldts in the wild on the coast of Peru and Chile can be subjected to some pretty wild extremes of weather,' said display curator Lyndsey Crawford. 'What they don't get, though, is weeks of almost daily downpours and high winds,' she added. 'After the first week our birds were just a bit subdued, but after over a month now, they are thoroughly fed-up and miserable - like the rest of us.' Misery can lower the body's natural defences in penguins even more easily than in humans, experts say.

Winter blues: Although the Humboldt is a hardy penguin, the Scarborough weather has got to them

Staff say the penguins have perked up considerably since their course of medication started

The Humboldt Penguin, also known as the Peruvian Penguin and the Patranca, breeds in Peru and Chile

Staff say that is why the penguins have been prescribed the sporanox pills to try and head off any more serious symptoms. 'They're doing the trick so far, but we are all praying for the weather to change and at least a few successive days of sunshine to give the penguins the tonic they really need,' Lyndsey added.

The Humboldt Penguin, also known as the Peruvian Penguin and the Patranca, is a South American penguin that breeds in coastal Peru and Chile. Its nearest relatives are the African Penguin, the Magellanic Penguin and the Galapagos Penguin.
It is named after the Peruvian cold water current it swims in, which is itself named after Alexander von Humboldt, a German explorer and naturalist who travelled extensively throughout South America.

The penguins can be seen off the coast of Chile (pictured) and Peru in South America

HOW STRESS CAN LOWER THE BODY'S NATURAL DEFENCES

Long-term stress plays havoc with the immune system, raising the odds of catching a cold for both penguins and humans. In humans, stress can affect inflammation, which occurs when the immune system spots an infection and is a vital first step in fending off disease. When under stress, cells of the immune system are unable to respond to hormonal control, and consequently, produce levels of inflammation that promote disease.

Because inflammation plays a role in many diseases such as cardiovascular, asthma and autoimmune disorders, stress impacts them as well. Stress related disorders are increasing rapidly and becoming a major source of illness. The Health and Safety Executive estimates work-related stress costs the UK economy at least £1.4 billion a year.